Automatic air-compressor.



PATENTED NOV. 6, 1906.

J. ROGERS. AUTOMATI 0 AIR COMPRESSOR,

APPLIOATION FILED NOV. 6.1905.

2 SHEETS-SHEET l.

32' WITN ssEs ATTORNEY TH! NORRIS PETERS co., WASHINGTON, b. c.

PATENTED NOV. 6, 1906.

'J. ROGERS. AUTOMATIC AIR GOMPRES SOR.

APPLICATION FILED NOV. 6, 1905.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

J 'IiIJY I II I ill/1111111111 IIIIII/IJ'I WITNESSES T 221 My. W32

ATTOR N EY 1H5 NORRIS PETERS cm, WASHINGTON, n. c.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

J OH N ROGERS, OF BRIDG EPORT, CONNECTICUT.

AUTOMATIC AIR-COM PR ESSOR- Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Nov. 6, 1906.

A li ti fil d November 6, 1905. Serial No. 286,037.

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that 1, JOHN Roonns, a citizen of the United States, residing at Bridgeport, county of Fairfield, State of Connecticut, have invented a new and useful Automatic Air-Compressor, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to the class of automatic air-compressors which operate by water-pressure, either ordinary service pressure or pressure from a tank, and are adapted for general use, as to provide pressure for beer-drawing, for atomizers, or for the production of light power for any purpose what ever; and my invention has for its object to produce a compressor of this class which shall be relatively inexpensive to manufacture, so constructed that there shall be no packings or parts to wear out, which shall be quick acting, always ready to work, and practicably impossible to get out of repair, which shall require but a relatively small quantity of water to operate it, and will transmit the entire pressure of the main or tank without waste.

YVith these andother objects in view I have devised the simple and novel air-compressor of which the following description, in connection with the accompanying drawings, is a specification, reference characters being used to indicate the several parts.

Figure 1 is a vertical .section of my novel air-compressor on the line 1 4 in Fig. 5, certain of the parts being in elevation, showing the position of the parts after the emptying of the cylinder, the eduction-valve being open and the induction-valve closed; Fig. 2, a transverse section, on an enlarged scale, of the induction-valve on the line 2 2 in Fig. 3 Fig. 3, a vertical section of the inductionvaTve on the line 3 3 in Fig. 2; Fig. 4, a ver tical section of the entire compressor on the same scale and sectiondine as Fig. 1, showing the position of the parts when the cylinder is filled, the induction-valve being open and the eduction-valve closed; Fig. 5, a plan view of the base with the cylinder and float removed and the central rod and operatingrod in section; Fig. 6, a detail view, partly in elevation and partly in section, of the eduction-valve detached; Fig. 7, an elevation of the induction-valve detached, the valve being in the closed position and the passage to the eduction-valve open; Fig. 8, a vertical section of the induction-valve on the line 8 8 in Fig. 3, showing openings for draining the recess for the valve proper, which may or may not be used; Fig. 9, a perspective of the induction-valve proper detached, and Fig. 10 is a perspective of the water-valve detached.

20 indicates the body or main cylinder, which is provided with a flange 21, by means of which the cylinder is secured to a corresponding flange upon a base 22.

23 indicates a connection for an inductionpipe, (not shown,) and 24 a connection for an eduction-pipe. (Not shown.)

25 indicates the body of the inductionvalve, and 26 the induction-valve proper.

Within connection 23 is a recess which receives a plug 27 with a drive fit. This plug is provided with a chamber 28 and a hub 29, on which induction-valve 26 oscillates. This valve comprises a sleeve 30, which passes within connection 23 and oscillates on the hub with-a head 31, the inner face of which engages the end of the plug, and with an arm 32, having a slot 33, which is engaged by an operating-lever 34. Valve 26 is retained in place on the plug by means of a set-screw 35, carried by a stud 36, which extends upward from the base.

The plug is provided with two openings 37 diametrically opposite each other and with an opening 38 intermediate openings 37, and valve 26 is provided with two openings 39, adapted to register with openings 37 in the plug, and with an opening 40, adapted to register with opening 38 in the plug. The body of the valve and connection 23 are provided with corresponding openings 41, which are in alinement with openings 37 in the plug and with which opening 39 in the valves are adapted to register to permit the water to flow into the cylinder. I form these openings in the ends of the valve-case instead .of the front, so that the water will pass outof the valve in opposite directions toward the wall of the cylinder instead of directly toward the center. induction connection are also provided with an opening 42, which is in alinement with opening 38 in the plug and with which opening 40 in the valve is adapted to register to permit water to pass by means of a pipe 43 to;

the eduction-valve, which as a whole is indicated by 44.

45. is an opening in valve 26, which is adapted to register with opening 42 in the body and induction connection to drain the The body of the valve and:

end a valve 64, which is adapted to engage a eduction-valve and permit it to close when.

the induction-valve opens, as will be more fully explained.

46 indicates longitudinal openings in the sleeve of valve 26 and through the head thereof which may or may not be provided to drain the recess between the plug and induction connection in which sald sleeve oscillates.

The construction of the eduction-valve will be understood from Fig. 6 in connection secured to the shank 51 of valve 49 and.

slides on a rod 52, which extends upward from the base.

53 indicates another cylinder which also comprises part of the eduction-valve. This cylinder is shown as provided with a base 54, which is secured to base 22. Vithin cylinder 53 is a plunger 55, adapted to reciprocate therein and having at its upper end a shoulder 56, which engages crosspiece 50, and a rod 57, which passes through the cross-piece and may be rigidly secured thereto or not, as preferred. Pipe 43 opens into a chamber 58 in base 54 directly under plunger 55, so that when water is admitted to said chamber the pressure thereof. will raise plunger 55 and through the engagement of said plunger with the cross-piece will raise plunger-valve 49 and permit water to pass out from the main cylinder through the eduction connection. As soon as the water has emptied from the main cylinder cylinder 53 will drain into the main cylinder through pipe 43 and opening 45 inthe induction-valve and the eductionvalve will close. In order to insure the closing of the eduction-valve beyond the possibility of failure, I provide a spring 59, one end of which bears against the cross-piece and the other end against a suitable head at the upper end of rod 52.

61 indicates a rod extending upward from the center of the base which terminates above the normal high-water line and is provided with a longitudinal opening 62 to per mit relief of the air-pressure as the cylinder becomes filled with water.

63 indicates a tube which is adapted to slide freely on the rod and carries at its upper seat at the upper end of opening 62 and close said opening to prevent the escape of air except when the tube and valve are raised by a float 65, which slides freely over the rod and tube. The tube is shown as provided near its upper end with a flange 66, which is adapted to be engaged by the float as the latter approaches the limit of its upward movement, and with an opening 84, which permits free passage of air to opening 62 in the central rod.

Operating-lever 34 is shown as pivoted on a bracket 67, which extends upward from the base.

68 denotes an operating-rod which is pivoted to the opposite end of lever 34 from its engagement with the arm of the inductionvalve, said rod extending upward and in ward and being provided at its 11 per end with an eye 69, which receives lhosely a guide-rod 70, extending upward from the top of tube 63. Lever 34 is shown as having a weight 71, which may or may not be provided to counterbalance the operating-rod and insure the closing of the induction-valve when the float reaches the limit of its upward movement.

72 denotes a pin extending outward from lever 34, which is engaged by an openinglever 73 to open the induction-valve through the engagement therewith of the float as it reaches the limit of its downward movement after the water has passed from the cylinder through the eduction-valve. The openinglever is shown as pivoted to a bracket 74 upon the inner side of the base and as provided at its free end with an eye 75, which re ceives central rod 61 loosely.

76 denotes a head at the upper end. of the cylinder which is provided with an air-inlet valve 77, which permits air to pass inward freely, but prevents the escape of air from within the cylinder with an air-pipe connection 78 and with an air-valve 79, which permits air to pass outward freely, but prevents air from passing backward into the cylinder from a beer-keg, atomizer, reservoir, tank, or other receptacle into which air may be forced from the cylinder. Below air-valve 79 is a hub 80, having a valve-seat which is engaged by a water-valve 81. This valve is provided in order to render it impossible for water to pass to the airipe connection under any circumstances w atever even should the induction-valve fail to operate to shut off the flow of water into the cylinder when the float reaches the extreme of its upward movement and operates the connections. Below the water-valve proper and rigidly secured thereto is a shell 82, closed at its upper end and provided with longitudinal grooves 83 for the passage of air. This valve rests upon the top of guide-rod and is ordinarily inoperative. It simply rises and falls with the guide-rod and air passes freely through the grooves to the air-pi e connection. Should the induction-valve tail to operate, however, to shut off the passage of water into the main cylinder, the water as it rises in head 1 76 will raise the shell and force valve 81 into engagement with its seat, thus rendering it im ossible for any water to pass from the cy 'nder into the air-pipe connection.

The operation is as follows: l/Vhen the arts are in the position shown in Figs. 1, 2, and 3, the induction-valve is open and water will pass freely into the main cylinder as soon as it is turned on, the control of the water-supply being wholly independent of the present invention, any ordinary water-valve in the supply-pipe (not shown) meeting the requirements. As the water passes into the cylinder it raises the float, compresses the air in the cylinder, and forces it out through air-valve 79 and the air-pipe connection airinlet valve 77 closing and preventing escape of air. The passage of air from the cylinder continues until the float engages flange 66 on the tube and raises the tube and with it valve 64. As soon as this valve is raised the pressure in the cylinder is relieved and air passes out through opening 62 in the central rod. Simultaneously with the opening of valve 64 air-valve 79 closes and prevents back pressure of air through connection 78. An instant later the tube which has been picked up by the float and carried upward with it engages the eye on the operating-rod, as clearly shown in Fig. 4, and raises said rod, the effect of which is to tilt operatinglever 34 from the position shown in Fig. 1 to the position shown in Fig. 4, which closes the induction-valve by oscillating it and moving openings 39 in said valve out of alinement with openings 37 in the plug and moving opening 40 in said valve into alinement with opening 38 in the plug, so that water can no longer pass into the main cylinder, but will pass through openings 38,40, and 42 and pipe 43 to chamber 58 under the plunger 55, which forms a part of the eduction-valve. The water-pressure now raises this plunger against the power of spring 59 and by means of the cross-piece raises plunger-valve 49 and permits water to pass out from the main cylinder through the eduction connection. As the water passes out from the cylinder the float drops downward with it, tube 63 drops with the float until valve 64 engages the seat at the upper end of the central rod, which prevents the escape of any more air from within the cylinder. Air-inlet valve 77 now opens and air passes into the cylinder, filling it with air as the water passes out. As the float approaches the limit of its downward movement it engages opening-1ever 73, presses it downward and through the enga ement of said lever with pin 72 on operating-lever 34 tilts said lever from the position shownin Fig. 4 to the position shown in Fig. l, the effect of which is to open the induction-valve by placing openings 39 in alinement with the corresponding openings in the plug, body, and connection, as clearly shown in Fig. 3, at the same time moving opening 40 in said valve out of alinement with the corresponding openings in the plug, connection, and body. This movement of the induction-valve places opening in the valve in alinement with opening 42, which leads into pipe 43, connecting with the eduction-valve. This permits the water under plunger to pass out through pipe 43 and the induction-valve into themain cylinder, so that the eduction-valve will close and shut off the passage of water through the eduction connection. The eduction-valve will remain closed and the induction-valve open until the raising of the float again closes the induction-valve and causes water to pass to the eduction-valve to open the latter, as has been fully explained, these operations being repeated automatically until the flow of water is shut off in the supply-pipe.

Having thus described my invention, 1 claim- 1. An air-compressor comprising a cylinder having induction and eduction connections and induction and eduction valves, a pipe leading from the inductionvalve, means whereby fluid in said pipe will actuate the eduction-valve, a float and intermediate connections whereby when the cylinder is filled the induction-valve is closed and water permitted to pass through said pipe to open the eductionvalve, and when the cylinder is emptied the induction-valve is opened and the eduction-valve drained through said pipe and induction-valve and permitted to close.

2. An air-compressor comprising a cylinder having induction and eduction connections and induction and eduction valves, a pipe leading from the induction-valve, means whereby fluid in said pipe will actuate the eduction-valve, an operating-lever for the induction-valve, an operating-rod pivoted thereto, a central rod having an opening for the passage of air, a valve adapted to close said opening, a tube by which said valve is carried and a float adapted to raise the tube to open the valve therein and to actuate the operating-rod and close the induction-valve.

3. In an air-compressor, the combination with induction and eduction valves and a pipe leading from the induction-valve, of means whereby fluid in said pipe will actuate the eduction-valve, a float, and intermediate connections whereby the induction-valve is alternately closed and water admitted to the pipe to open the eduction-valve and then opened and the eduction valve drained through said pipe and induction-valve and permitted to close.

4. In an air-compressor, the combination with an induction-valve comprising a plug having a chamber, a pair of openings in line with each other and an opening intermediate said openings, of a sleeve adapted to oscillate on said plug and having a pair of openings adapted to register with the pair of openings in the plug, and an opening adapted to register with the intermediate opening when the pairs of openings in the sleeve and plug are out of alinement, an eduction-valve and a pipe leading from the induction-valve, through said pipe to open the eductionvalve, a float and intermediate connections whereby the induction-valve is alternately closed and water admitted to the pipe to open the eduction-valve and then opened and the eduction-valve drained through said pipe and induction-valve and permitted to close.

5. In an air-compressor, the combination with an induction-valve, an eduction-valve comprising a cylinder 53, a plunger therein, a cylinder 47, a plunger-valve therein, and a cross-piece connecting said plunger and plunger-valve and a pipe leading from the induction-valve and terminating under the plunger in the eduction-valve, of a float and intermediate connections whereby the. induction-valve is alternately closed and water admitted to the pipe to open the eductionvalve and then opened and the eductionvalve drained through said pipe and induction-valve and permitted to close.

6. In an air-compressor, the combinationwith an induction-valve, an eduction-valve comprising a cylinder 53, a plunger therein, a cylinder 47, a plunger-valve therein, a crosspiece connecting said. plunger and plungervalve and a spring for moving said cross-piece and plunger-valve to the closed position, and a pipe leading from the induction-valve and terminating under the plunger in the eduction-valve, of a float and intermediate connections whereby the induction-valve is alternately closed and water admitted to the pipe to open the eduction-valve and then opened and the eduction-valve drained through said pipe and induction-valve and permitted to close.

7. In an air-compressor, the combination with a cylinder, induction and eduction valves, a pipe leading from the inductionvalve, and means whereby fluid in said pipe will actuate the eduction-valve, of a central rod having an air-opening, a valve adapted to close said opening, a tube by which said valve is carried, a float adapted to engage said tube to open the valve, an operating-rod adapted to be engaged by said tube as it is raised by the float, and connections whereby the induction-valve is opened and closed by the falling and. rising of the float to alternately admit water to the cylinder and to the eduction-valve to operate the latter.

8. In an air-compressor, the combination with a cylinder having an air-pipe connec tion, induction and eduction valves, a pipe leading from the induction-valve, and means whereby fluid in said pipe will actuate the eduction-valve, of a central rod, a verticallymovable tube on said. rod having a guide-rod extending therefrom, a valve-seat above the upper end of said rod, a float adapted to move over the central rod and the tube, connections whereby the induction-valve is opened and closed by the rising and falling of the float and a water-valve carried by the guide-rod which is adapted to be raised by the water against the seat to prevent the passage of water to the air-pipe connection should the induction-valve fail to operate to shut off the passage of water into the cylinder.

9. In an air-compressor, the combination with induction and eduction valves, a pipe leading from the ind.uctionvalve, and means whereby fluid in said pipe will actuate the eduction-valve, of an operating-lever for the induction-valve having a pin extending therefrom, an operating-rod pivoted to the operating-lever, an opening-lever adapted to engage the pin and a float adapted to engage the operating-rod when it rises to close the induction-valve and to engage the openinglever when it falls to open the inductionvalve.

10. In an air-compressor, the combination with a cylinder, induction and eduction valves, a pipe leading from the inductionvalve, and means whereby fluid in said pipe will actuate the eduction-valve, of an operating-lever for the induction-valve, an openinglever adapted to engage the operating-lever, an operating-rod pivoted to the operatinglever, a float which engages the operating rod to close the induction-valve and the opening-lever to open said valve, and means for relieving the air-pressure in the cylinder when it fills with water.

11. In an aircompressor, the combination with a cylinder, induction and eduction valves, a pipe leading from the inductionvalve, and means whereby fluid in said pipe will actuate the eduction-valve, of a float and intermediate connections whereby said valves are caused to operate alternately, an airinlet valve and an airvalve which permits air to pass from the cylinder when water rises therein.

12. In an air-compressor, the combination with a cylinder, induction and eduction valves, a pipe leading from the inductionvalve, and means whereby fluid in said pipe will actuate the eduction-valve, of a float and intermediate connections whereby said valves are caused to operate alternately and a water-valve which prevents water passing from the cylinder should the induction-valve fail to close.

13. In an air-compressor, the combination with an induction-valve comprising a' plug having a chamber, a pair of openings in line with each other and an opening intermediate said openings and a sleeve adapted to oscillate on said plug and having a pair of open- 10 to admit water to the cylinder and drain the eduction-valve which closes, and in the other direction to close the induction-valve and permit ater to pass to the eduction-valve to open it.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature I 5 in presence of two Witnesses.

JOHN ROGERS. Witnesses:

A. M. WoosTER, S. WQATHERTON 

